Prolific Westwood receiver Nolan Borgersen will have new quarterbacks throwing to him in September.

No Bunsen burners, test tubes or periodic tables involved. Just a lot of pass-catching as the most prolific wide receiver in New Jersey goes about breaking in the new Westwood quarterback.

"No question it’s about chemistry," said Westwood football coach Vito Campanile. "You know, they talk about seven-on-sevens and say it’s not real football. It might not be, but for a team like us, it can be very, very important."

The Cardinals graduated quarterback Craig Carmilani, The Record North Jersey offensive Player of the Year, from last season’s North 1, Group 2 title team. There was so much chemistry going on between Carmilani and Borgersen that it made the Cardinals offense explode.

Carmilani completed 144 passes for 2,982 yards and 35 touchdowns, 26 of which were pulled in by Borgersen. All told, Borgersen caught 85 passes for 1,894, earning All-North Jersey honors.

Those flashy numbers are more than simple chemistry, however, and you have to wonder if that formula can be replicated.

"I don’t know if we’ll be as explosive offensively, but we will be better defensively," said Borgersen, who accepted a scholarship to Boston College last week. "So we’ll win games 40-10 instead of 50-20."

The Cardinals began their mandatory Big North Conference summer break on Saturday, so the chemistry lessons won’t resume in earnest until next week. When it does, Colin Saunders, Liam Carlstrom and Zach Hopkins will be handling the quarterback chores.

That’s a solid collection of talent to choose from, and Campanile said he will be using more than one quarterback. Campanile believes all three are well-versed in his system because, in typical small school fashion, they all play other positions and understand what the Cardinals do.

That said, keep an eye on Saunders because he and Borgersen have a history. Saunders was Borgersen’s quarterback from fourth grade until high school when Saunders shifted to running back behind Carmilani.

You know, the choice of offensive Player of the Year last December essentially came down to Borgersen or Carmilani. We were asking ourselves high school football’s version of the old chicken-and-egg dilemma: Did the quarterback make the receiver or vice versa?

That question should be easier to answer this time around because we know Borgersen is the real deal. He’s already on the short list of preseason offensive players to watch, and it will be interesting to see how he handles being the focal point on a team that has serious dreams of more December football.